Woodland treasures make for delightful gifts

One of my favorite gifts to special friends and family is comprised of “combinations” of garden/woodland gleanings and purchased items.

Woodland “potpourri” — in the form of cedar and evergreen sprigs, tiny cones, birch back curls, attractive lichens, and dried seedheads — is gathered over the year and stored in bags for holiday giving. I sort mine now, to nestle within pretty bowls picked up at flea markets (or high-priced emporiums, as you choose).

If you’re a dried flower enthusiast, this idea serves you as well. Perhaps a lovely purchased pillar candle could stand in the center, or a meaningful sculpture that suits the recipient’s tastes. Cute fake birds nests are popular, too, containing adorable crafted birds or a clutch of faux bird’s eggs.

Speaking of bird’s nests, feathers are “de rigueur” in decorating now, and if you’re as lucky as I am, you can take advantage of the leavings of the many flocks of wild turkeys roaming in our area. My big fir sanctuary is a gathering spot for them, since sunflower seeds spill from the feeders hanging above.

These big birds not only clean up the mess, but leave some beautiful feathers behind as gifts. I’ve gathered enough to make three or four nice “bouquets” for some of my discerning friends. Tied with a gold bow and presented as is — or in a unique pewter or brass urn (also from the thrift shop), these are “instant gifts” from the hand (or tail of Nature herself. By the way, the other “leavings” of the turkeys make great fertilizer for plants of most any ilk. Just make sure it’s totally dry if you’re going to use it in house plants.

Divided herbs from your garden beds are another welcome gift. Rosemary, chives, sage and lavender are possibilities. Chives do well in a variety of pots and will perk right up on a sunny windowsill for sparking up soups and baked potatoes.

I recently purchased a large, beautiful stoneware urn in pale blue with a gold lace design. At the time, I had no idea what I’d do with it, but I just had to have it — you know how it goes. The other day, I decided it would be perfect for a rosemary plant, but unfortunately, my rosemary didn’t survive my too-late transplanting efforts. As luck would have it, when I was shopping at Yoke’s, what should they have but rosemary trees! Voila — a gift completed for a very special daughter-in-law!

One of my annual gifts to many family members is a calendar reflecting their personal loves — cats, gardens, owls, etc. Along with the cat calendars, I provide little gauzy bags of my own dried catmint to keep these precious family members in raptures for several months.

Seed-savers too, can thrill their gardening friends with the gift of a few small glassine envelopes of some favorites (clearly identified), enclosed with a card giving instructions for care, packaged with a nice trowel or a trio of pretty flowerpots (perhaps hand-painted for you artists out there)?

Another great part craft, part-purchase gift is literally “for the birds.” If your talent is carpentry, make some simple bird feeders. A simple low-sided box bottom with corner uprights holding a slanted roof is all that’s needed.

Attach a bag of black oil sunflower seeds and voila! A much-appreciated gift. A klutz with hammer and nails? So am I, but don’t give up! Stir up some good birdseed, suet, peanut-butter mixture and gob it into big pinecones or make into balls or cakes held in hardware cloth (actually a kind of wire), and attach twine for hanging in trees, large bushes or under eaves. Your friends, and their feathered charges, will love these!

Most of us are not flush with money — but when you cook, garden, forage or love crafts, you can always come up with a combination gift that showcases your talent with a modest purchase. These are truly gifts from the heart.

(Editor’s note: For many years, Valle Novak has written gardening and cooking columns for the Daily Bee. “Weekend Gardener” and “Country Chef” became renowned for their humor, information and common sense advice on how to do everything from planting to cooking. While she recently retired, she has shared a number of columns to delight her many fans. This is one such column which ran in December 2007.)